Henry Edmunds jnr. grew up with a real interest in all forms of engine and engineering. He trained
as an engineer from 1868-1874 and applied for one of his first patents at
the age of twenty. This was entitled ‘An invention for certain improvements
in heating and lighting by the combustion of hydrocarbons or other volatile
oils’. At the age of 22 he began to take an interest in electricity,
then a new form of energy. This would continue for many years and take him
to America to visit William Wallace and Thomas Edison. His working life involved
him with the pioneers of early technology; the early phonograph, incandescent
lights, telephones and engines. During this time he invested in and was on
the board of several large companies.
In the late 1870’s Henry met Annie, the daughter of Thomas Wayman who
had been Mayor of Halifax in 1872/3. He was also a man of humble beginnings
having been born the son of a cardmaker in Orange St. He became a prominent
member of Halifax society, an Alderman and he was later to be elected as Member
of Parliament. The Wayman family house was The Grove and it was from there
that Annie went to be married at the Park Congregational Church on February
2nd, 1880. After the wedding service Henry and Annie rode together in the
first of nine carriages back to The Grove. They honeymooned in the Lake District
and Scotland before starting married life at No5. Heath Villas, a large and
imposing house, off Heath Gardens.
The following year Annie was expecting twins. Henry was heavily involved with
Joseph Swan in the development and marketing of electric lamps at this time.
This meant many business meetings around the country and it was on the return
from one of these that he was met at the station to be told that Annie had
gone into premature labour and was critically ill with puerperal convulsions.
After fifteen hours she died, leaving Henry with the twins, Claud Henry (my
husband’s grandfather) and Dorothy Annie. The death of his young wife
of 24 after only fourteen months of happy family life must have been a shattering
blow. Annie was buried in Stoney Royd Cemetery where Henry had purchased a
double plot. He, obviously, meant to be buried there himself one day.
Henry threw himself into his work with Joseph Swan. It was during a visit
to America to introduce the Swan Incandescent Lamp to the American market
that Henry was to meet his second wife Ellen Murray Howard, the daughter of
Governor Henry Howard of Rhode Island. They married in 1882 and had a son
Howard Maurice Edmunds the following year. Henry left Halifax soon after the
death of Annie to settle in London and continue his various business interests.
In 1897 he was elected a member of the Royal Institution.
The invention of the motorcar was bound to interest Henry. He witnessed the
famous Emancipation Run from London to Brighton in 1896 and in 1898 bought
his own vehicle, a De Dion motor tricycle. In 1899 he bought his first proper
car at the Paris Motor Show. He also purchased a Daimler and joined the newly
formed Royal Automobile Club that year. Henry met Charles Rolls, a founder
member of the RAC, when they both took part in the Thousand Miles Trial in
1900. This was an early motor car endurance test from London to Edinburgh
and back. Henry was awarded a bronze medal in his class. A week later he was
invited to dine with Lord Llangattock, Rolls’ father. The dinner was
interrupted by the butler who informed the company of the relief of Mafeking.
The friendship of the two men flourished.
Henry Royce had set up his firm in Trafford Park, Manchester opposite to W.T.Glover
& Co, the electrical and telephone cable company in which Henry became
a partner in 1901.Henry was introduced to Henry Royce, who was developing
his own prototype of a motorcar. Not long after this Charles Rolls who also
had ideas for a car asked Henry if he knew of any improvements that he could
incorporate as well.
Henry Edmunds was convinced that both men would benefit from meeting and so
he arranged to travel with Rolls to Manchester. During the journey Rolls confided
in Henry that he had the ambition of having his name become a household word
in connection with a car. The meeting took place at the Midland
Hotel (now the Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza) on May 4th 1904 and as they say
‘the rest is history’ or in our case, family history.
Henry’s business dealings suffered a downturn in the 1920’s and
most of his money was lost. He died in 1927 and is buried at Stanmer near
Brighton.
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Photos taken of some of the descendants of Henry Edmunds at the lunch on May 4th 2004-2007 to commemorate the meeting of Charles Rolls and Henry Royce are available at the link below.
Rolls Royce Centenary Tree Planting ceremony at Cooke St. site, Manchester
Rolls Royce Centenary Lunch Gallery. Photos of the family and some vintage Rolls Royce cars taken on May 4th 2004-2007 at a lunch organised by the Rolls Royce Heritage Trust and the Enthusiasts Club
Edmunds Rolls Royce Centenary Lunch Gallery
Pagden Wayman Hatton Pritchard Cooper Plumpton Gallery
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Catherine Pritchard East Barn, White Farm,Leckwith, Cardiff. UK. CF11 8AS.
Updated: 23/04/2007
Information on this site may be used for personal research only.
Copyright © 2004-2007 Catherine Pritchard. All rights reserved.